Metallic valise



(No Model.) -3 SheetS-Sh'Set 1. A. M. GARDNER & J. NORTH.

METALLIC VA=LISE. No. 259,524.

Patented June 1'3, 1882;. 625.1

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WITNESSES 510 Model.) I S 3' Sheets-Sheet, 2.

A. M. GARDNER & J. NORTH.

METALLIC VALISB.

No. 259,524. Pate nte d June 13, 1882.

N. PETERS. Phntwlllhngniahnr. Wahmgton. D48.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. M. GARDNER & J. NORTH.

METALLIC VALISE.

No. 259,524. Patented June 13,1882.

UNTTEE STATES EErcE.

PATENT 1 NORTH, OF MIDDLETOWN,

METALLIC VALISE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,524, dated June 13, 1882.

Application filed April 27, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ALBINUS M. GARD- NEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Darien, Fairfield county, Connecticut, and

JOHN NORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Metallic Valises, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has for its object to produce a strong, light, and cheap sheet-metal valise or portmanteau; and it consists in forming the body of the valise of thin sheet metal, properly strengthened by corrugations or bybrac- I5 ing, or by both together, the ends of the valise, which are struck up in dies, being fitted over the edges of the sheet or sheets forming the body.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing a valise constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of Fig. 1, taken in theline 3 3. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one ofthe ends detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valise opened. Fig. 6 is a section taken through one of the halves of the valise shown in Fig. 5.

A in said drawings indicates the body portion of the valise, which is made in two parts hinged together. Each part is composed of a single piece of sheet metal, bent into the required shape, and closed at each end by a head,

B. (Shown detached in Fig. 4.) This head is formed by being drawn in a die, producing the inwardly extending flange a, which is slipped over the edge of the sheet A and securely riveted thereto, the edges being also brazed or soldered, when desired, to the body portion, in order to conceal the joint and give a more ornamental appearance.

The corners may also be strengthened by adding angle-plates C upon the inner side, as shown in Fig. 6.

The ends or heads B may be ribbed or corrugated in any well-known manner to secure the requisite strength, and the same construction may be applied to the body portions A, as shown in Fig.3. The lattermay,moreover, be additionally strengthened by re-enforcing (No model.)

said ribs with metal strips D, curved in crosssection to fit closely upon the ribs of the body and riveted thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Another method, however, of imparting the required rigidity is by means of interior bracing-strips, E. (Seen in Figs.5 and 6.) These strips or plates consist offlatsteel pieces lying against the inner surface of the body portion A and retained in place by keepers b, one, two, or more of said plates or strips being used, as circumstances may require, placed at suitable intervals in the manner shown.

A joint-plate, F, is attached to one section of the body, its ends forming bearings for the pivot-rod or hinge-pin c, by which the body portions are united. This plate may be both riveted and brazed on, and its edge projects over to form'a covering for the edge of the remaining half of the valise. The handle G is attached to this plate by any of the usual means.

To the remaining half of the valise straps H may be secured by riveting, brazing, or otherwise attaching them to the flange a of the heads B, the ends of said straps being bent around the pivot-pin or pintle 0, thereby hing- 7 5 ing the two parts of the valise together. A partition-plate, I, may also be hinged upon the said pintle between the straps H, so that said plate may swing in both directions to open or close both sides,

The lock for fastening the two parts of the valise together may be made in any suitable manner, It may, for example, consist of a spring-plate, L, mounted upon the joint-plate F, and provided with a locking-pin, f, passing 8 through a perforation in the latter and adapted to engage with an opening in the opposite half of the valise. The strengthening ribs or corrugations may be of any desired form, and those formed in the head may be struck up 0 when the latter is drawn in the dies. By strengtheningthe valise in this manner and adding the elastic braces, as described, great strength may be imparted, effectually avoiding all danger of its collapsing or bending un 5 der pressure, while at the same time the Whole structure will be light and serviceable.

Any suitable sheet metal may be employed in construction, although galvanized iron is in many respects preferable, and the interior in ay be lined with any suitable fabric.

lhis same method of construction may be applied to trunks as well as to valises or port manteaus.

What we claim is- 1. A sheet-metal valise consisting of the body portion or portions, formed of a single sheet of metal, and provided with the heads or ends B, substantially as described.

2. The body portion A, formed of sheet metal, having transverse strengthening ribs or corrugations re-enforced by metal strips lying upon said ribs and secured thereto, substantially as described.

3. The improved article of manufacture, a sheet-metal valise having each part of its body formed of a single sheet of metal, with a our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBIN US M. GARDNER. JOHN NORTH.

Witnesses to the signature of A. M. Gardner JAMES L. NORRIS, J. A. RUTHERFORD.

Witnesses to the signature of John North:

J. H. CANFIELD, ELIHU W. N. STARR. 

